‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ leads the drama series category at Emmys

Monday, Sep 18, 2017,11:12 ISTBy metrovaartha AAA

Los Angeles | “The Handmaid’s Tale” made a clean sweep in the drama series section at the 69th Primetime Emmy awards by taking home the trophies in the best drama series, actress, writing and directing categories.
The Hulu show based on the best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood, is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate.
In a desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world, the few remaining fertile women are forced into sexual servitude.
Elisabeth Moss, who essays the role of Offred in the show won her first best actress in drama series Emmy award for her portrayal of a woman determined to survive the terrifying world she lives in, and find the daughter that was taken from her.
Moss dropped an f-bomb as she walked up to the stage to receive her award, and then called her mother a “f***ing bada**” at the end of her speech. “You are brave and strong and smart…”
She also thanked Hulu and MGM, in addition to Atwood, who wrote the book on which the series is based. “Margaret Atwood, oh my gosh, thank you for what you did in 1958 and thank you for what you continue to do for all of us.” Another major win for the show was Ann Dowd in the best supporting actress category. The actor, who won her first Emmy award, plays Aunt Lydia and appears only in Offred’s flashbacks.
While in tears, Dowd thanked author Atwood during her acceptance speech, as well as her family and representatives.
But she also took a moment to thank the streaming service that released “The Handmaid’s Tale”: “They’re very lovely, Hulu,” she said.
Rising-star director Reed Morano, who helmed the first three episodes of the show, became the first woman to win the Emmy for drama series directing in 22 years.
In her acceptance speech, Morano hailed Moss for her fearless performance in the adaptation of the dystopian novel.
“Lizzie is my ultimate inspiration,” Morano said. “This is as much her as it is me.”
The last female director to take the drama series directing Emmy was Mimi Leder in 1995 for the “ER” episode “Love’s Labor Lost.”
Bruce Miller of “The Handmaid’s Tale” also won the award for writing for a drama series.
“This Is Us” star Sterling K Brown made history by becoming the first African-American to win the best actor in drama series at the Emmys in 19 years.
The last time a black actor won the lead actor in a drama series trophy, it was Andre Braugher for “Homicide”, back in 1998.
Brown plays Randall, the black adopted son of the otherwise white Pearson family, who is on a mission to find his biological father and explore his racial identity.
“I just want to say Mr Braugher, whether at Stanford University or on this Emmy stage, it is my supreme honour to follow in your steps,” Brown said, before pivoting to thanking his TV family. “Milo, Mandy, Justin, Chrissy — you are the best white TV family that a brother has ever had. Better than Mr. Drummond, better then them white folks at Webster.” The best supporting actor award in the drama series went to John Lithgow for “The Crown”. Lithgow won the trophy for his performance as Winston Churchill in the Netflix drama. The veteran actor has now won a total of six Emmys.
“I feel so lucky to have won this in the company of my fellow nominees. Some of you are my friends and former cast- mates,” he said.